Question

A client with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma asks, "how long do you think i have to live?" what is the most appropriate response by the nurse?

Answer 1

The most appropriate response would be for the nurse to ask the patient about their current concerns. This allows for the patient to actually elucidate what he or she is feeling at the time and does not hamstring the provider into actually giving a set length of time that they feel the patient has left to live, which can vary greatly from person to person.